Thanks Bruce. I was hoping you'd be shedding more light on this event. Been getting bits and pieces from the news, but this was much better. Who says there's never any excitement in Stronsay. Cheers Karen In a message dated 10/28/2009 1:35:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time, ricardian@btinternet.com writes: <http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk/2009/10/28/rescue-of-yacht-in-mill-ba y-of-stronsay> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

To my Canadian friend - speaking of the sea, Canada, etc. makes me have to tell you I am listening to Slim Whitman, "The Old Waterwheel" and Lucille, listening to the water splash. CD filled with lovely love songs and lovely voice! Beautiful day in Naples, Maine but wishing I could have some time in Orkney too. Marion > My dearest dead uncle was a Canadian war hero; navy . > > Amongst other high seas ordeals, he captured the Canadian ninth prize > of the war, which he boarded with a prize crew off the Prescott. That > ship which left him to seize the vessel off the coast of Spain, was > called up to escort a convey through the straits of Gibralter, at > which time she was wounded, leaving my uncle and his hand picked crew > of seven, stranded on a 200 foot long wooden ship with fifty > prisoners from about every country in Europe. Indeed, he decided > after a few days, to sail the ship to Newfoundland, which they did, > albeit arriving there the prisoner count was less afer some attempts > initially to overpower my uncle. Half way across the pirate captain, > who ship hd been selling diesel oil and cognac to the german subs, > oficially surrendered his boat and men, knowing that they would be > safe in Canada. old harmonica. > > My uncle WW2 hero would have been proud of this posting. > > Cheers! > > The Canadian >

Hi Could be interesting, though I doubt there can be anything new. By the way this was not really a tragedy, though the deaths of so many of the crew was certainly tragic for their families. In reality it was the result of an unprepared and incompetent Admiralty which utterly failed to provide adequate defenses at Scapa Flow. In fact it was a remarkable feat of arms for U47 and its crew. And a wake up call to the British. -- Charles Tait Photographic Limited, Kelton, St Ola, Orkney, UK KW15 1TR Tel 01856 873738 Fax 01856 875313 Mobile 07785 220269 All outgoing and incoming mail is checked by Norton Antivirus email charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk website http://www.charles-tait.co.uk photo gallery http://gallery.charlestait.com Charles Tait Photographic Limited Company Number SC240761 Warning: This email is intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any sale, usage, distribution or copying of this email or its attachment(s) is strictly forbidden. If you have received this message by mistake please notify us. It may contain data that is copyright,confidential or otherwise not for distribution.

My dearest dead uncle was a Canadian war hero; navy . Amongst other high seas ordeals, he captured the Canadian ninth prize of the war, which he boarded with a prize crew off the Prescott. That ship which left him to seize the vessel off the coast of Spain, was called up to escort a convey through the straits of Gibralter, at which time she was wounded, leaving my uncle and his hand picked crew of seven, stranded on a 200 foot long wooden ship with fifty prisoners from about every country in Europe. Indeed, he decided after a few days, to sail the ship to Newfoundland, which they did, albeit arriving there the prisoner count was less afer some attempts initially to overpower my uncle. Half way across the pirate captain, who ship hd been selling diesel oil and cognac to the german subs, oficially surrendered his boat and men, knowing that they would be safe in Canada. Point is, I think to take your point forward, Royce, that some of the German submariner courage, came in liquid form in bottles from france. A little libation was a great and accepted tool of war. My uncle talked of splicing the main brace, and he and many from here who saw so much action, came home alcholics. I remember being told that when they did get ashore in places like Briton England for repairs, the idea was a night out with the maidens of the town, was better than life aboard their ships with rum, bum, and the old harmonica. My uncle WW2 hero would have been proud of this posting. Cheers! The Canadian On Oct 9, 2009, at 9:56 AM, Royce Perry wrote: > > No matter what side you are on, you have to admire the German > captian's shear nerve going right into the Royal Navy's home port. > And his luck getting out again! > > R > > > >> Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 14:57:51 +0100 >> From: charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk >> To: orcadia@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Royal Oak >> >> Hi >> >> Could be interesting, though I doubt there can be anything new. >> >> By the way this was not really a tragedy, though the deaths of so >> many >> of the crew was certainly tragic for their families. >> >> In reality it was the result of an unprepared and incompetent >> Admiralty >> which utterly failed to provide adequate defenses at Scapa Flow. >> >> In fact it was a remarkable feat of arms for U47 and its crew. And a >> wake up call to the British. >> -- >> Charles Tait Photographic Limited, Kelton, St Ola, Orkney, UK KW15 >> 1TR >> Tel 01856 873738 Fax 01856 875313 Mobile 07785 220269 >> All outgoing and incoming mail is checked by Norton Antivirus >> email charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk >> website http://www.charles-tait.co.uk >> photo gallery http://gallery.charlestait.com >> >> Charles Tait Photographic Limited Company Number SC240761 >> >> Warning: This email is intended only for the addressee. >> If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified >> that any sale, usage, distribution or copying of this email >> or its attachment(s) is strictly forbidden. >> If you have received this message by mistake please notify us. >> It may contain data that is copyright,confidential or >> otherwise not for distribution. >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

"In a message dated 10/9/2009 8:52:50 A.M. Central Daylight Time, charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk writes: By the way this was not really a tragedy, though the deaths of so many of the crew was certainly tragic for their families. message" I meant, of course, tragic for the individuals involved and the families who lost loved ones and have been observing the remembrance of them for decades since. It would seem like the greatest effect for Orkney would be the influence to create the barriers. I once asked someone who was opposed to any bridges or tunnels to connect the remaining islands how people had felt about the barriers being built and the change it made in their island society. He replied, "well, there really wasn't any choice." I thought, no, but now they don't want to be told they can't cross them in stormy weather. What would they say to removing the connections? It's interesting to ponder the difference it makes on the society of those formerly "independent" islands. I understand why people question the proposals to connect their island to another, event those as close as Westray and Papa Westray. Another media note, Music Matters on BBC Radio 3, Saturday 12:15 has a program on Sir Peter Maxwell Daives including the influence of Scotland and Orkney on his work, and his life in the islands. _BBC - BBC Radio 3 Programmes - Music Matters, Peter Maxwell Davies_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n6t8b)

No matter what side you are on, you have to admire the German captian's shear nerve going right into the Royal Navy's home port. And his luck getting out again! R > Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 14:57:51 +0100 > From: charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk > To: orcadia@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Royal Oak > > Hi > > Could be interesting, though I doubt there can be anything new. > > By the way this was not really a tragedy, though the deaths of so many > of the crew was certainly tragic for their families. > > In reality it was the result of an unprepared and incompetent Admiralty > which utterly failed to provide adequate defenses at Scapa Flow. > > In fact it was a remarkable feat of arms for U47 and its crew. And a > wake up call to the British. > -- > Charles Tait Photographic Limited, Kelton, St Ola, Orkney, UK KW15 1TR > Tel 01856 873738 Fax 01856 875313 Mobile 07785 220269 > All outgoing and incoming mail is checked by Norton Antivirus > email charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk > website http://www.charles-tait.co.uk > photo gallery http://gallery.charlestait.com > > Charles Tait Photographic Limited Company Number SC240761 > > Warning: This email is intended only for the addressee. > If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified > that any sale, usage, distribution or copying of this email > or its attachment(s) is strictly forbidden. > If you have received this message by mistake please notify us. > It may contain data that is copyright,confidential or > otherwise not for distribution. > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Those in the UK may want to see The Sinking of the Royal Oak on your TV this week. We might get to see it in the rest of the world someday. The Orcadian mentions a showing on STV on Tues at 9pm. The History Channel over there will be showing it several times after that beginning on Wed. at 7 pm. Their web site has quite a bit of information including some pictures and video. There's a competition for a book about the tragedy, which is only open to UK residents. (I thought that was only for BBC shows!) The answer to enter is September 1. Radio Orkney's back on in the evenings, in case anyone hadn't noticed and was interested. Karen

from Dictionary.com, one of the definitions of the word tragedy: "a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster: the tragedy of war." I think it'd be hard to say, then, that the sinking of the Royal Oak was not a tragedy. Jean Swanson Birsay -----Original Message----- From: orcadia-bounces@rootsweb.com on behalf of Charles Tait Sent: Fri 10/9/2009 6:57 AM To: orcadia@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Royal Oak Hi Could be interesting, though I doubt there can be anything new. By the way this was not really a tragedy, though the deaths of so many of the crew was certainly tragic for their families. In reality it was the result of an unprepared and incompetent Admiralty which utterly failed to provide adequate defenses at Scapa Flow. In fact it was a remarkable feat of arms for U47 and its crew. And a wake up call to the British. -- Charles Tait Photographic Limited, Kelton, St Ola, Orkney, UK KW15 1TR Tel 01856 873738 Fax 01856 875313 Mobile 07785 220269 All outgoing and incoming mail is checked by Norton Antivirus email charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk website http://www.charles-tait.co.uk photo gallery http://gallery.charlestait.com Charles Tait Photographic Limited Company Number SC240761 Warning: This email is intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any sale, usage, distribution or copying of this email or its attachment(s) is strictly forbidden. If you have received this message by mistake please notify us. It may contain data that is copyright,confidential or otherwise not for distribution. _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

<http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk/2009/09/25/stronsay-cat-sitting-again > -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney

Readers interested in the history of the parishes of Sandwick or Stromness, and Orcadian social history in general, may like to be aware of my latest book, "The Breckness Estate", A4 casebound, pp332, 200k words, with tables, graphs, 5 maps, 6 genealogies, 12 appendices, 1,800 footnotes, and 70 colour and b&w illustrations, plus comprehensive glossary, bibliography & index. The result of 20 years of research, and drawing on the 18,000 papers of the estate's archive as well as public records and anecdotes, I deal primarily with the 12 lairds but have also been able to identify 1,200 tenants, and review the economics of the estate through nearly four centuries. Please contact me via james.irvine@ukonline.co.uk for further details. James Irvine

Thank you, Karen, for the link.? Interesting program on GMB on BBC Radio 3 . Still available for "Listen Again" for a few days. _BBC - BBC Radio 3 Programmes - Sunday Feature, For the Island I Sing_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) or _http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) _______________________________________ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I was there when she wis making it Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: KJEMEM@aol.com Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:46:40 To: <orcadia@rootsweb.com> Subject: [ORCADIA] And one more Ornkey arts related Margaret Tait's film about Hugh McDiarmid is being shown here _Scots Language Centre - Home page_ (http://www.scotslanguage.com/) In a message dated 9/9/2009 12:55:20 P.M. Central Daylight Time, KJEMEM@aol.com writes: Interesting program on GMB on BBC Radio 3 . Still available for "Listen Again" for a few days. _BBC - BBC Radio 3 Programmes - Sunday Feature, For the Island I Sing_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) or _http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) Karen _kjemem@aol.com_ (mailto:kjemem@aol.com) See my photos at _http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneinmemphis/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneinmemphis/) and links to my favorite websites at _http://karensconnections.blogspot.com/_ (http://karensconnections.blogspot.com/) _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks for the"ListenAgain" webpage Karen. Also a similar and interesting lecture here. Light from the Orkneys: Edwin Muir and George Mackay Brown [1]http://www.gresham.ac.uk/event.asp?PageId=45&EventId=830 References 1. http://www.gresham.ac.uk/event.asp?PageId=45&EventId=830

Margaret Tait's film about Hugh McDiarmid is being shown here _Scots Language Centre - Home page_ (http://www.scotslanguage.com/) In a message dated 9/9/2009 12:55:20 P.M. Central Daylight Time, KJEMEM@aol.com writes: Interesting program on GMB on BBC Radio 3 . Still available for "Listen Again" for a few days. _BBC - BBC Radio 3 Programmes - Sunday Feature, For the Island I Sing_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) or _http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) Karen _kjemem@aol.com_ (mailto:kjemem@aol.com) See my photos at _http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneinmemphis/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneinmemphis/) and links to my favorite websites at _http://karensconnections.blogspot.com/_ (http://karensconnections.blogspot.com/) _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Interesting program on GMB on BBC Radio 3 . Still available for "Listen Again" for a few days. _BBC - BBC Radio 3 Programmes - Sunday Feature, For the Island I Sing_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) or _http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg_ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mjrlg) Karen _kjemem@aol.com_ (mailto:kjemem@aol.com) See my photos at _http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneinmemphis/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneinmemphis/) and links to my favorite websites at _http://karensconnections.blogspot.com/_ (http://karensconnections.blogspot.com/)

HI Cousin Meg: Computer online 101. Put a photo of the chair online, and then people will know precisely what you are talking about. A picture is worth a thousand words. Stephen On Sep 1, 2009, at 7:06 PM, Meg Greenwood wrote: > A few years ago I purchased a small 6 inch tall souvenir Orkney > Chair on > eBay. As I recall it was shipped from Scotland but not the Orkney > Islands. Would like some opinions and hopefully hard facts on J. W. > LINKLATER who lived or worked at The Retreat in "Finstown, Kirkwall, > Orkney, Scotland" I know Finstown isn't in Kirkwall, but for some > reason, the label on this souvenir says exactly that. > > Its not a hooded chair and its rather sturdily built for a souvenir. > Legs are large in scale to the rest of the chair. Small diameter > twisted straw type roping is used for the back and its stitched > internally up and down to keep it all in line. Arms have the > traditional scroll at the handrest and a non-working drawer is denoted > by a simple strip of red leather across the front piece [at the leg > level] with a tack in the center as a knob. Seat is not rushed, its > solid wood and rounded at the back to match the curve of the straw. > There is no signature and no initials have been found, only this label > under the chair seat and its stuck on over the finish. > > Can someone give me an opinion on when this might have been made ? > I'm > guessing 70s because it still looks so sturdy and the construction was > time-intensive. It has some yellowing varnish so its seen time > pass, or > maybe just a lot of sun. Meg Greenwood Oklahoma USA > =================== > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

A few years ago I purchased a small 6 inch tall souvenir Orkney Chair on eBay. As I recall it was shipped from Scotland but not the Orkney Islands. Would like some opinions and hopefully hard facts on J. W. LINKLATER who lived or worked at The Retreat in "Finstown, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland" I know Finstown isn't in Kirkwall, but for some reason, the label on this souvenir says exactly that. Its not a hooded chair and its rather sturdily built for a souvenir. Legs are large in scale to the rest of the chair. Small diameter twisted straw type roping is used for the back and its stitched internally up and down to keep it all in line. Arms have the traditional scroll at the handrest and a non-working drawer is denoted by a simple strip of red leather across the front piece [at the leg level] with a tack in the center as a knob. Seat is not rushed, its solid wood and rounded at the back to match the curve of the straw. There is no signature and no initials have been found, only this label under the chair seat and its stuck on over the finish. Can someone give me an opinion on when this might have been made ? I'm guessing 70s because it still looks so sturdy and the construction was time-intensive. It has some yellowing varnish so its seen time pass, or maybe just a lot of sun. Meg Greenwood Oklahoma USA ===================

<http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk/2009/08/28/update-on-the-stronsay-bea st> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney

Royce Perry wrote: > That is a Flickr "Set" that I created on my account for any pictures members > of this group want to put up. Flickr wouldn't let me change the file names > (CIGM0064...etc) but I can change/add titles and descriptions, If I have the > information. I went through them and fixed the ones I could, but would need > help from the person that sent them to me on the rest. As far as the ones > you seem to be interested in, that's going to be harder. Those are from a > friend that lives south of Sterling. She travels a lot in her work and had a > three day assignment in Orkney a couple of years ago. Although a native > Scot, she had never been to Orkney before. She knows I have an interest in > Orkney, so she took those and sent them to me. Problem is she is going > through some serious medical issues right now with an uncertain outcome. So > I can't ask her about them. Some we can all identify the Ring, Skarea (?) > Brea, the Cathedral. But the street scenes I haven't a clue, and doubt that > she would remember either, even if she was up to trying. Best I remember, > they would be somewhere in Kirkwall, I don't think she went to any of the > other towns. Maybe some of our Orkney residents recognize them? > R I'm not all that familiar with Kirkwall as I only go there 2 or 3 times a year but I think that CIMG0068 is taken just outside the Orkney Hotel, about halfway down Victoria Street facing away from the cathedral. CIMG0069 is taken from about halfway down Bridge Street looking towards the spot where CIMG0071 was taken CIMG0071 is looking down Albert Street from just outside what used to be "Leonards" CIMG0072 is taken from Albert Street, facing towards the cathedral and just after the point where the pedestrianised area starts -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney UK "My friend had a pet rock, he called it Trelawney"

Thank you Victoria, Bruce and Royce. I've found "Google Earth" software to be of great assistance in finding the exact GPS; however, not all countries allow identifying information. I've also noted that, in Canada in particular, that an exact address is often off as much as a half a city block :S Dialing into the "flight" aspect is a tad too touchy, imo, with a touchpad. It's one thing to have addresses from records and another to look at a visual. In particular I recall viewing one image of "Logan's Well" while nodding "OK that's historically significant." Then have one sent to me with a person bending at the knees while telling me their height to realize how small the access was to "Logan's Well". Sadly my computer crashed and burned without having backed up to disc or online storage. Fleshing out history as well as data is an exquisite aspect of our shared passion. Again, thank you one and all.